Telling Northwest Alabama’s Stories
The northwest corner of Alabama may look small on a map, but this part of the Tennessee River basin has had an outsized influence on America’s culture and history. People and places in the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area’s six counties have shaped America to an astonishing degree with music, engineering, education and more. And it’s still happening! From outdoor recreation to Grammy hitmaking to historic preservation and sustainable reuse, we continue to be a vibrant presence on the national landscape. See for yourself—explore our website to learn more and plan your own visit.
River Heritage
The Tennessee River has shaped history and culture in northwest Alabama for centuries.
Native Heritage
Native Americans came to northwest Alabama for the Tennessee River’s food, water, and transportation.
Music Heritage
Music inspires and shapes northwest Alabama. Native Americans called the Tennessee River “Singing River.”
Featured Projects
Roots of American Music Trail
Our music makes us special and we love to share. Explore the “The Hitmaking Capital of the World” through our Roots of American Music Trail, a self-guided cell-phone tour of music locations, such as iconic recording studios, that changed the world.
"Native Flora" digital magazine
Check out MSNHA’s new & exclusive “Native Flora” magazine. You’ll explore northwest Alabama’s rich biodiversity and learn how to plant & care for your own plants plus enjoy valuable tips & stunning photography. Download & read for free,
Civil Rights Struggle in the Shoals Project
CRSSP researches & documents the struggle for freedom in Colbert & Lauderdale counties from 1945 to 1975. Its website shares the results in a dynamic and accessible way by telling a story that has largely been ignored in the narrative of Shoals history.
Upcoming Events
MSNHA Blog
Aspiring newspaperman remembers his Civil War-childhood — Part No. 1: the ‘Devils Incarnate’ and their fate
By Greg Gresham North Alabama Civil War Roundtable When I was a child, during the school-less summers the boys in my neighborhood would often tramp to the nearby woods to
A Cannon Ball’s Tale
By Greg Gresham North Alabama Civil War Round Table If you’ve ever been in Pope’s Tavern Museum, you might remember seeing an extremely large cannonball, much bigger than anything you
George Washington Goethals and the Muscle Shoals Canal
By Alana Rogers MSNHA graduate assistant Although you may not recognize his name, George Washington Goethals ranks was one of the most instrumental people who contributed to making the Shoals
Featured Video
If video doesn’t play, please go directly to our YouTube channel.
Featured Photos
The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area is full of talented photographers. Featured on our pages are images taken by Abraham Rowe, Christi Britten, Brian Corrigan, Mary Carton, Shannon Wells and others—images that focus on the natural beauty, history and innovation that the MSNHA is known for. Browse through the gallery below and watch for an announcement about our annual photo contest—your photo could end up here, too!
